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The Prospector April 7, 2015

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VOL . 100, no. 23

t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f t e x a s at e l pa s o

A p r i l 7, 2 0 1 5

New Texas bill would allow police to ask for proof of legal status PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD NAME NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, GRINGO INA A#

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námor aleahcim yb otohp 7 gua<<<<<<<<<<<<< asor al ed obocaj yb ngised 13 TC0<<<<<<<< PHOTO BY MIChAELA ROMAN / design by jacobo de la rosa / The Prospector

By Maria Esquinca The Prospector Viridiana’s aunt has been afraid to come back to El Paso after a police officer told her he was going to call immigration services on her after he gave her a traffic citation. Her aunt, a Mexican citizen with a tourist visa, was picking up her son from school. “He assumed that she didn’t live here or that she was illegal, simply because she had Mexican license plates,” said Viridiana, 25, who was in the country unlawfully for eight years after her tourist visa expired until she

was approved for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Although the officer didn’t call U.S. Customs and Border Control on Viridiana’s aunt, if passed into a law, S.B. 185, filed by Texas Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, would allow enforcement officers to ask for proof of legal status to people they detain or arrest. The law would ban municipalities or counties from receiving state grants if they pass rules, ordinances or policies that prohibit sheriffs and members of the municipal police, among others, to ask a person they arrest or lawfully detain about their

immigration status. The law would also allow officers to share information with any federal, state and local entity, such as United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “It’s not something that concerns me because I don’t enforce it…Their social status, resident status doesn’t affect my job. It’s not going to change what I do,” said an El Paso Police Department officer. In the bill analysis of SB 185, Perry wrote under the statement of intent that Texas cities, known as a “sanctuary cities,” adopt policies that prohibit local law enforcement inquiring about a person’s immigration status.

Travis McCormack, communications director for Sen. Perry, said in an email that, “‘Sanctuary City’ policies are policies put in place by local entities that prohibit the enforcement of state and federal law relating to immigration enforcement.” The exact number of sanctuary cities in Texas is unknown. In a separate email to The Texas Tribune, McCormack said there is no legal definition of a sanctuary city. He also said San Antonio is the largest city in America that is not a sanctuary city. It’s also unclear whether El Paso has passed any sanctuary city policies.

“Due to a settlement agreement with El Paso County after alleged civil rights violations, there is a policy in place that ensures the Sheriff ’s Department would not enforce civil immigration laws. It’s not clear if S.B. 185 would affect this agreement,” said Texas Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, in an email. “One of the concerns is that the bill provides for a private citizen complaint process that could easily be abused and waste the time and resources of the Attorney General’s office.” According to proponents, the bill is aimed at the enforcement of federal

see bill on page 8


PAGE 2 April 7, 2015

perspectives

Editor-in-Chief

Lorain Ambrocio, 747-7477

S.B. 185: More Political BS By Ben Woolridge

Immigrants who look a certain

The Prospector Allowing local law enforcement to ask people, who they detain or arrest, for their legal status is just another political ploy that will only keep our borders broken. El Paso Police officers and Sheriffs’ deputies should not be burdened with extra duties that are already reserved for federal officers to perform. Texas Senator Charles Perry, RLubbock, seems to be sending a clear message that racial profiling is acceptable, as long as those who have been detained or arrested look illegal (whatever that means). I’m not sure if this bill is a viable solution to the much larger problem of illegal immigration or if it is even a sincere effort to curtail illegal entry into this country. It does seem to perpetuate negative stereotypes that continue to follow immigrants living in the United States, legal or not. By casting a wider net in an attempt to catch those with questionable status, the opportunity for more civil rights violations to occur becomes greater. For those wanting a better life by coming to America, the hurdles and obstacles are already numerous, and with bills like S.B. 185, it is just another unnecessary barrier that sends the unfortunate message that immigrants are not welcomed. This bill has no true purpose other than to intimidate those who have come to America to stay in the shadows, to be exploited for their labor, only to be forced into the shadows again. There is no question that reform is needed when it comes to controlling the influx of immigrants that enter through our nation’s borders. Yet, S.B. 185 seems to expand the very system that is already broken. Approaching the issue of illegal immigration by proposing bills and laws that do not take into account the humanity and dignity of those who have simply come to this country to make a better life tarnishes the history of what makes this nation great. A bill like S.B. 185 would only lead to other bills, other laws, other measures that would have citizens asking for proof of legal status from those they deem not from here. I exaggerate to make a point, or maybe I’m not exaggerating. Bills like S.B. 185 seem to be created to keep the disadvantaged at a disadvantage.

way are already targeted by federal law enforcement and live in constant fear when working or going to school, driving or simply living their lives as contributors to an economy, but with a price on their heads. It is an unenviable existence that is shaped by a constant paranoia that the years they’ve worked, the families they’ve raised, and the improvement to the lives that they have managed to carve out in an environment that often threatens to become hostile to their presence will all be taken away. The goal is not clear as to why local law enforcement should be involved in immigration matters that have been solely left to government agencies for decades. So called “sanctuary cities” do more to address the problem of illegal immigration than any law or bill

illustration by jacobo de la rosa / The Prospector

can ever do because they address the difficulties that the immigrants face rather than make it more difficult for immigrants to get help. It is obvious that this bill was craft-

Pi Day pg. 9

ed in political expediency and is not genuine in its attempt to provide a realistic solution. Local law enforcement is trained to protect and serve the local community, not to become freelance border agents at Sen. Perry’s convenience. The issue of illegal immigration should be addressed on a more humanitarian level and not exacerbated with bureaucratic mumbo jumbo that gives political currency to the one creating the bill at the expense of real human beings. I hope the bill doesn’t pass and that, we as a nation, find other ways of addressing our issues when it comes to those less fortunate. America may be a nation of laws, but it also a nation of immigrants who are human beings. Ben Woolridge may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.

STAFF V O L . 1 0 0 , n o . 2 3 Editor-in-Chief: Lorain Ambrocio Managing Editor: Amanda Guillen Layout Editor: Jacobo De La Rosa Copy Editor: Maria Esquinca Sports Editor: Luis Gonzalez Entertainment Editor: Kimberly Valle Photo Editor: Michaela Roman Multimedia Editor: Christopher Zacherl Staff Photographers: Ruby Cerino, Andres Martinez Staff Reporters: Jason Green, Valerie Herrera, Julia Hettiger, Jesus Lopez Vargas Juan Carlos Navarrete, Benjamin Woolridge Cartoonist: Blake A. Lanham Contributors: Fernanda Leon, Alonso Moreno, Andrea Sandoval,

Legal status pg. 1

Student Ad Manager: Anna C. Almeida Ad Executive: Mariel Mora, Salvador Ortega Ad Layout Manager: Edgar Hernandez Ad Designers: Damian Balderrama, Fernando Enriquez Student Assistant: Ashley Muñoz Administrative Secretary: Marcela Luna Accounting Specialist: Isabel Castillo Asst. Director-Advertising: Veronica Gonzalez Student Publications Director: Kathleen Flores

illustration by jacobo de la rosa / The Prospector

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Letters will be edited for clarity and brevity. Letters over 250 words are subject to editing to fit available space. Please include full name, street address and telephone number and e-mail address, plus major, classification and/or title if applicable. Address and phone number will be used for verification only. Write to 105 E. Union, e-mail theprospectordaily.news@gmail.com, call 747-7477 or fax to 747-8031. The Prospector is published by the Student Publications Editorial Board, 105 Union East, 500 W. University Ave. El Paso, Texas, 79968. The Prospector appears in print once per week on Tuesdays during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The newspaper is not printed during holidays and when classes are not in session. The Prospector does provide news online at www.theprospectordaily.com. The Prospector is provided to students through student fees. First copy is free. Any additional copies, if available, must be purchased for $1 through the Department of Student Publications. The Prospector is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. Additional policy information may be obtained by calling The Prospector at 915-747-5161. Opinions expressed in The Prospector are not necessarily those of the university.


THEPROSPECTOR

NEWS | 3 |

April 7, 2015

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Republican bills would cut mass transit from transportation fund

sean mcminn / shfwire intern Passengers wait for the red line subway in Washington. Two bills introduced to Congress in March would eliminate mass transit funding from the Highway Trust Fund.

By Sean McMinn SHFWire Intern WASHINGTON — Just based on its name, people could be forgiven if they don’t understand what the federal Highway Trust Fund pays for. After all, in addition to highways, it also funds bridges, tunnels, carpooling and clean air programs, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, mass transit and other projects that help people move from Point A to Point B. But a group of Republicans wants to get the fund’s priorities back to its namesake: highways. “What we have is a trust problem with the American public,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said in an interview. “People will pay for roads, but they want to know money they’re paying is going toward roads.” Two bills introduced in the House of Representatives in March — Massie’s DRIVE Act and the Highway Restoration Act — would try to save the troubled Highway Trust Fund by cutting billions of dollars of federal spending in mass transit and other non-highway programs. First established in the 1950s, the trust fund was designed to be a selfsustaining source of federal money for transportation projects. It was based on the premise of user fees: People who need highways (drivers) pay a federal gas tax that would finance their roads. But in recent years, the gas tax has become an inadequate source of money for several reasons. Among them, people are driving more fuelefficient vehicles that don’t need as much gas, and Congress hasn’t raised the gas tax to keep up with inflation. Today, about 20 percent of the $50 billion spent annually by the Highway Trust Fund goes toward mass transit, with more than half of that money going toward urban mass transit, maintenance and repair work.

The DRIVE Act and the Highway Restoration Act, introduced by Rep. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, would put an end to this non-highway funding. The DRIVE Act would also eliminate funding of transportation alternatives such as bicycle lanes and sidewalks, as well as some rural bridges. “I think talking about reducing the liability of the trust fund is a prerequisite to increasing the revenues,” Massie said. “We shouldn’t be going through this annual exercise of finding fake offsets to fund our roads and bridges, when there’s enough fuel tax to fund our roads and bridges.” Sanford was unavailable for comment. The bills on their own don’t provide a long-term fix for the Highway Trust Fund, which tallies an estimated deficit of $16 billion each year and is scheduled to expire May 31. Eliminating the mass transit account would reduce that deficit by about $10 billion annually. Massie said he and Sanford wrote the bills separately, without knowing what the other was doing. The end result was similar bills that both eliminate mass transit from the Highway Trust Fund, though Sanford’s allows for a five-year phase out period. Massie said if the bills do not pass during this session of Congress — “I think it will probably be about May 30 when people start worrying about it,” he said — he would work with Sanford in the future to produce one united bill. A phase-out period, Massie said, is probably needed as a “practical reality.” Ten Republicans are co-sponsors of one or both bills. No Democrats have joined their ranks. Congress made a similar effort to remove mass transit from the trust fund in 2012 as it passed the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, which regulates the Highway

Trust Fund. A bill removing mass transit spending made it through the House Ways and Means Committee,

but there was not enough support to push the idea through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Massie said the issue this time is “more acute,” and there may be support in the 114th Congress that didn’t exist in the past. Though it’s too early to tell if the newest effort will be successful, Transportation Committee Chair Bill Shuster, R-Pa., is talking to members about cutting alternative transportation programs, his spokesman said. Rep. Peter DeFazio, the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said in a statement to the SHFWire that he doesn’t believe cutting mass transit spending is politically viable. The Oregon Democrat called efforts to do that “just grandstanding.” “Republicans floated that idea in the House when we were putting together MAP-21 and it fell flat, even in their own caucus,” DeFazio said. “This Committee has heard from very Red States, from North Carolina, to Utah, to Texas about the need for local choice and allowing communities to invest in multiple modes to enhance mobility.” Advocates for public transportation are, naturally, not thrilled by the proposition to cut their federal funding.

In a statement, American Public Transportation Association President Michael Melaniphy said the plan was “shortsighted.” “Such an action would be catastrophic for public transportation systems nationwide and hurt the millions of Americans who use it every day in growing numbers,” Melaniphy said. The White House offered its own response to the Highway Trust Fund’s problems Monday with a new version of the Grow America Act. The $478 billion package would fund highway projects for six years. It would also give $115 billion over six years to public transit, a 70 percent increase over current levels, according to the Department of Transportation. “The more there’s uncertainty in Washington, you’re going to see state and local governments spending less and less and less,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said at a Politico-sponsored event Monday. “Instead of arguing against ourselves on things we agree on let’s get six of years of certainty under our belts.” Reach reporter Sean McMinn at sean.mcminn@scripps. com or 202-408-1488.


THEPROSPECTOR

| 4 | NEWS

April 7, 2015

Do you think Sun Metro should give free bus rides to teens and veterans? Hugo brito, andres martinez, sergio zamora, adam ziegenhals / The Prospector

Amy Martinez

Carlos Chacon

Bronte Silvaa

Christian Honsaker

Christine Martinez

“It would be really neat if Sun Metro would give rides to veterans and teens. The only problem that I see is that the teens should be students.”

“It’s a good idea because it will give them a chance to get around.”

“It’s an awesome idea because the teens and veterans who work and don’t have a car can take advantage of the bus ride being free.”

“I think it’s a pretty cool move on Sun Metro’s part to encourage public transportation by focusing on our veterans and giving parents a break from chaperone duty.”

“I think it’s a good idea, but I don’t think it will make a big difference for the city.”

Freshman education major

Freshman pharmacy major

Carlos Lugo

Diana Dominguez

“It is good because if you don’t have a car it will help you around to school or to your job.”

“I think it’s a good idea because not everyone has a car and people actually struggle for money for the bus.”

Junior math major

Sophomore business major

Junior history major

Cristian Morales Freshman English American Literature major

“I know a lot of people that go to Juarez and cross every day. So for them it would be good to get a free ride on the bus.”

Senior physics major

Junior media advertising major

Edna Ibarra

Mariana Schenck

“I do think it’s appropriate for veterans to get free rides on buses.”

“I think that it is a good idea as long as they figure out a way to keep prices down for other customers.”

Sophmore graphic design major

Senior economics major


THEPROSPECTOR

NEWS | 5 |

April 7, 2015

Free bus rides still up for debate By Alonso Moreno The Prospector Although it has been asked for and discussed as something the city would benefit from, El Paso is still far from implementing free bus rides for children or veterans. The city of El Paso has been considering offering free bus rides for young people and veterans across the city. This comes after the Boys and Girls Club of El Paso asked city representatives to consider the proposal, as there are a lot of kids and teens across the city who can’t reach non-profit programs in different parts of town. Although Sun Metro is aware of the proposal, they are still conducting research and are looking into the possibility. “We know of the proposal, but as of right now, we have not finalized anything,” said Savannah Leeper, public affairs coordinator for Sun Metro. “Currently, we are only planning to offer free bus rides for non-profit summer camps, but we will continue to work with an eye towards the future.” Despite the proposal being made by the Boys and Girls Club for teens, Leeper said that they are aware of how many UTEP students depend on the bus to get to school. Sun Metro will continue to work in order to improve routes, service and affordability for students. “We are doing research on how implementing such a program would impact the city and those who use the bus, we are aware that other cities have such programs and we are looking into those as well,” Leeper said. According to UTEP, bus ridership has averaged approximately 3,800 students per month, which is equal to roughly 16 percent of its 23,000-student population riding the bus. “The bus is important, you can ride it all the time or just every so

often, but the point is that it can be the difference from making it to school or not,” said Alejandro Artalejo, graduate student in construction management. “I used to ride the bus almost daily when I first came to UTEP. Later on I got my own vehicle, but even then you can’t completely forget the bus.” Even if you have access to a vehicle or someone who may be willing to give you a ride, the bus might just end up saving your day.

Life happens, cars break down or emergencies come up. But at the end of the day the bus is always there and in many instances, it’s the lifeline for many students. - Alejandro Artalejo, graduate construction management major “Life happens, cars break down or emergencies come up. But at the end of the day the bus is always there and in many instances, it’s the lifeline for many students,” Artalejo said. Sun Metro currently offers free bus rides to children 5 and under. Students have discounted rates and in order to obtain a pass, students must present an accredited ID or must present proof of enrollment

file photo / The Prospector An average of approximately 3,800 UTEP students ride the bus per month, which is 16 percent of the total 23,000 student population.

adam ziegenhals/ The Prospector The Boys and Girls Club of El Paso has asked city representatives to consider offering free bus rides for veterans and teenagers across the city. from the school, a valid state ID or driver’s license. Perhaps the biggest concern surrounding the proposal is money. According to City Representative Carl Robinson the problem is that public transportation does not make money and it’s subsidized. “Public transportation does not make money in the first place, so pub-

lic transportation is subsidized as it is,” Robinson said during a city council meeting. “This is a good initative, but think about the consequences.” As both the city and Sun Metro continue to do research on how much the program would cost, Robinson said that the results of the report would be ready soon.

“We are currently waiting on the report before we take any further action, and we should be getting the report and the results in the next 30 days or so,” Robinson said. Alonso Moreno may be reached at theprospector.ent@ gmail.com.


THEPROSPECTOR

| 6 | NEWS

April 7, 2015

These are the 250 most traveled U.S. bridges that need ‘significant’ repairs By Sean McMinn SHFWire Intern WASHINGTON — It wasn’t an April Fool’s joke, The American Road and Transportation Builders Association made sure to note Wednesday before it released its list of U.S. bridges in need of repair — there really are 61,000 “structurally deficient” bridges in the United States. The industry association’s 2014 list identified thousands of bridges that Americans collectively cross 215 million times per day. State transportation departments regularly inspect bridges and score

association said in a release. Anything rated a four or below is deemed structurally deficient. A bridge that is structurally deficient isn’t necessarily on the verge of collapse, but is in need of “significant” repair. Fixing bridge deterioration — and larger transportation problems — isn’t an easy task. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have listed the issue among their top priorities, but an answer to the question of how to pay for infrastructure repairs has eluded lawmakers for years. The Highway Trust Fund, which sends billions of dollars to states for

sean mcminn / shfwire intern In addition to a list of 61,000 “structurally deficient” bridges in the U.S., the The American Road and Transportation Builders Association also identified the 250 most traveled ones. About a third of these are in California, and the most traveled is in Ohio

them on a scale from zero to nine, the

highways and bridges annually, has

been on a slide toward insolvency since 2008. The trust fund is supposed to be paid for by an 18-cent per gallon gas tax, but it’s become an inadequate source of revenue for the roughly $50 billion spent each year. “Elected officials can’t just sprinkle fairy dust on America’s bridge problem and wish it away,” the American Road and Transportation Builders’ chief economist Alison Black said in

Teacher Job Fair DEAR STUDENT AND GRADUATE:

The University Career Center invites you to attend the 2015 TEACHER JOB FAIR. The event is intended to connect you with school districts interested in hiring UTEP graduates. We encourage you to arrive early, bring extra copies of your résumé and/or portfolio, and wear professional attire.

For more tips on preparing for the Teacher Job Fair and to find a list of participating school districts, visit the University Career Center’s website at SCIENCE

MATH

History

UTEP TEACHER JOB FAIR Friday, April 17, 2015 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Don Haskins Center

www.utep.edu/careers

Local, regional and national districts to be represented!

Don’t miss out on: NMSU Educators’ Job Fair April 20 - 21, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Corbett Center Student Union, 3rd Floor. More information: (575) 646-1631.

SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY CAREER CENTER 103 W. UNION • 915.747.5640

investment by legislators at all levels of government.”

Elected officials can’t just sprinkle fairy dust on America’s bridge problem and wish it away.

The association also singled out the 250 most traveled structurally deficient bridges, which about a third of are in California. The most traveled bridge in need of repair crosses Cemetery Run in Newark, Ohio, and

- Alison Black American Road and Transportation Builders’ chief economist a statement. “It will take committed

is crossed an estimated 300,000 times every day. Reach reporter Sean McMinn at sean.mcminn@scripps. com or 202-408-1488.


THEPROSPECTOR

NEWS | 7 |

April 7, 2015

inbrief

UTEP PICKS TALENT At 6 p.m. on April 11 at the Magoffin Auditorium SGA will host UTEP Picks Talent. Students will perform for the chance to win $1000. Admission is free.

Science extravaganza From 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 at the UGLC, UTEP along with the student chapter of UTEP’s Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers will host a Science and Engineering Extravaganza. This will bring together 300 high school students from around the El Paso community.

centennial plaza opens From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, UTEP will celebrate the opening of the Centennial Plaza and the Lhakhang located in the center of campus. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and parking will be available in the Sun Bowl Parking Garage.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

poetry reading

Throughout the month of April the Office of Student Life will be sponsoring Sexual Assault Awareness Month. From April 6-24 a community Clothesline project will line the walls of the Library Wall on the 3rd floor and at the Union Plaza.

At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7 in the Union Cinema, Jorge de la Parra del Valle will host an intimate poetry reading. The reading will be followed by a book signing of “Cuando Los Astros Se Alinean.” Books will be sold for $20.


THEPROSPECTOR

| 8 | NEWS

April 7, 2015

bill from page 1

is reasonable suspicion they are not

and state immigration laws at the local level, specifically the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C Section 1101).

in the country legally. “It’s very susceptible to being subjective,” said Dr. Jose Villalobos, associate professor of political science. “There’s all kind of people walking all over the place–you’re going to

It’s (S.B. 185) clearly against immigrants. It’s made to cause fear amongst the Hispanic community. That is not the job of the police.

choose to ask somebody for their documents. How do you make that decision of who you’re going to ask?” According to the American Civil Liberties Union, their website states, “laws inspired by Arizona’s S.B. 1070 invite rampant racial profiling against Latinos, Asian-Americans and others presumed to be ‘foreign’ based on how they look or sound.” However, McCormack said racial

- Viridiana, 25

profiling is specifically prohibited in the bill. “This bill can say do not racially

“The Texas Legislature is about to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into border security, with current proposals giving grants to local governments to help address public safety concerns. It does not make sense to provide resources while at the same time allowing local governments to undermine state and federal immigration laws,” McCormack said. One of the concerns regarding the bill is that it could lead to racial profiling and has been compared by critics to Arizona’s S.B. 1070, a law that requires police to ask people who are criminally detained about their immigration status — if there

profile, but it’s very difficult to not racially profile,” Villalobos said. The bill says that officials cannot consider, “race, color, language, or national origin while enforcing the laws.” “It’s (S.B. 185) clearly against immigrants. It’s made to cause fear amongst the Hispanic community,” Viridiana said. “That is not the job of the police.” Despite her opinion regarding the bill, Viridiana said she still trusts the police. Maria Esquinca may be reached at theprospectordaily. news@gmail.com.


PAGE 9 April 7, 2015

entertainment

Editor

Kimberly valle, 747-7477

Professor wins Pi Day of the Century contest

andRes martinez / The Prospector Dr. Larry Lesser, UTEP mathematical sciences professor, was announced the winner of the New York City Museum of Mathematics Pi Day of the Century song-writing contest.

By Valerie Herrera The Prospector More than 100 contestants from around the world entered this year’s Pi Day song writing contest, a significant event held only once this century and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a UTEP professor of 11 years. Dr. Larry Lesser, UTEP mathematical sciences professor and interim director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, was announced as the winner of this year’s Pi Day of the Century song-writing contest held by the New York City Museum of Mathematics.

“I felt extremely honored and happy to win a contest at a national level, especially one that is connected to a significant date,” Lesser said. “I’ve won a few local and regional songwriting contest awards, but winning this contest was very special.” Out of about 100 math, statistics and education songs that he wrote, Lesser entered two of his songs into

the contest, which were, “American Pi,” a parody of Don McLean’s No. 1 hit “American Pie,” and “Pi Will Go On,” a parody of Celine Dion’s hit song “My Heart Will Go On.” Lesser first created “American Pi” as a parody in 1997, while he was teaching a mathematics history course at the University of Northern Colorado.

“Since the first draft, I’ve made various fine-tuning improvements, but contests and concerts are great motivators to do that polishing,” Lesser said. While teaching at Southwestern University in 1992, Lesser developed a math and music unit for a precalculus course that had a successful outcome among his students. Since then, he has continued gathering connections between his two passions. In 2013, Lesser honored UTEP’s mission and its upcoming centennial year by recreating a new school song for the university. The new lyrics to the tune of Freddy Mercury’s, “We are the Champions” (a platinum hit for Queen) were created in an effort to capture UTEP’s unique essence. As part of his teaching curriculum, Lesser uses math-based songs to help introduce students to new terms, humanize the subject, reduce anxiety, build classroom community and make real-world connections by engaging modalities, like song, into the course overview. “It was another few years later before I actually integrated math and songwriting that yielded even more response and engagement,” Lesser said. “So, I’ve been songwriting for over three decades (since college), and this has included two decades of writing math songs.” In 2014, Lesser conducted an experiment at a university and a community college with different and diverse populations. Students were randomly selected to participate to see whether they did or did not understand material with statistics-fun added into the course management system. “It is still being analyzed, but we found that students perform significantly better on exams,” Lesser said. “The main way students have helped with the songs’ research is by transcribing interviews.” His research relates to making statistics and mathematics more accessible to diverse populations and is supported by a current National Science

Foundation grant, for which he is the principal investigator. “It’s part of my toolbox to use a math song when I’m teaching a topic I have a song about,” Lesser said. “It’s obviously less than 1 percent of the instructional time, but that’s the 1 percent students remember best.” A case study that will soon be published, which was recently conducted by Lesser and Dr. Rey Reyes, associate professor of teacher education, will show how the use of song and other engaging modalities in the college statistics classroom give a qualitative picture of the patterns of interaction and engagement. With more than 60 math songs published in journals, Lesser was privileged to participate in a mathand-music episode for the KCOS-TV children’s educational show “Blast Beyond,” and he has published educational articles about using songs in math classes. Lesser provides various workshops and keynotes that help teachers engage students, while in the classroom in an effort to help other teachers across the country and within the local community. “I conduct mathematics education research in completely different areas, such as the roles of language, intuition, teacher knowledge and equity,” Lesser said. “Society is only increasing in how much we need to deal with data and diversity.” Valerie Herrera may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.

I felt extremely honored and happy to win a contest at a national level, especially one that is connected to a significant date. - Dr. Larry Lesser mathematical science professor Celebrated during the month of March, Pi Day represents the mathematical constant of Pi written as 3.14. What made this year special is that Pi day landed on March 14 of this year, which is the first five digits of Pi–3.14.15– which is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

andres martinez / The Prospector Dr. Larry Lesser helps a student in one of his mathematical science classes.


THEPROSPECTOR

| 10 | ENTERTAINMENT

April 7, 2015

UTEP business organization ranks in top 25 By Fernanda Leon The Prospector

Andres martinez/ The prospector The UTEP American Marketing Associaion made it to the top 25 International Collegiate Conference for aspiring marketers from March 19-21 in New Orleans, La.

This year’s American Marketing Association chapter at UTEP made it to the top 25 internationally at the 37th Annual International Collegiate Conference, which is a conference for aspiring marketers. The conference took place March 19-21 at New Orleans, and served as a learning and inspiring experience for UTEP’s AMA chapter members. The goal of AMA is to encourage and to motivate students not only to be better at their marketing skills, but also to develop their speaking skills and with resume building. “We hope to empower and motivate members to succeed in all they do, all while setting a presence not only for themselves but AMA as well,” said Bryan Monje, junior marketing major and vice president of fundraising finance for AMA. Monje said the collegiate conference rankings will give considerable prestige to the AMA’s UTEP chapter.

“We have established a presence, not only for us but for UTEP, and we are greatly proud of that,” Monje said. Among the activities that were offered in the conference were different competitions and workshops that helped the members learn about brand management, sales, how to run your own business and marketing strategies. “This was my third year going to the collegiate conference, but we broke many records here locally and internationally from our chapter,” said Angel Sandoval, junior marketing major and president of AMA. “ We became top 15 of 100 schools in the marketing strategy competition, top 25 out of over 200 schools in annual reports, which is excelling in six different categories involving marketing.” Apart from the commitment of its members, Edward Ramirez, assistant professor of marketing and advisor for AMA, said it was the creativity of the members that made them stand out in the conference. “The team positioned the organization as being in touch with the emerging and high-purchasing power Hispanic market segment by dressing up as a jumbo too-hot jalapeño,” Ramirez said. “The performance was so hot that it resulted in the CEO of DHL calling Jorge (AMA UTEP chapter member) to the front of an audience of over 3,000 attendees to congratulate him for his creativity.” The honors the UTEP chapter won included an honorable mention in the Vitamin Water Case Study Competition, semi-finalists in the marketing strategy competition and a bronze award for being one of the top 25 collegiate chapters at the International Collegiate Conference. Locally, AMA has participated in different UTEP and El Paso events and fundraising. “We’re involved in activities ranging from Minerpalooza to charity events, to working with local high schools, where we show students how to create an effective resume,” Ramirez said. “We’re only limited by our imaginations and how we think that we can add value to UTEP and the greater El Paso community.” The AMA UTEP chapter is currently preparing for their annual officers’ election and for community service and fundraising events, such as the Adolescents to Marketing Professionals (AMP), where AMA students go to high schools and talk about what marketing is and teach them about what marketing can do. “We will be developing an aggressive chapter plan next year and would like to recruit UTEP’s best and brightest to pitch in,” Sandoval said. The members recent success at the conference has given them an opportunity to bring more professionalism and recognition to the organization. “Our organization has been through so many struggles and no recognition, but after many years of hard work and a promise I made to them of getting them recognized, this means the world to us,” Sandoval said. Fernanda Leon may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.


THEPROSPECTOR April 7, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT | 11 |

Mighty Mujer Triathlon to benefit Center Against Family Violence pare for the race and how to cool down after prolonged periods of exercise. “Some of our participants run two to three miles after the workshops, and we show them how they can stretch beforehand to prepare their bodies for the run and how they can cool down afterwards,” Villalobos said. The last day to register for the event will be April 15. Registration will be $70 for the sprint and $80 for the super sprint until April 9. From April 10 to 15, registration will cost $75 for the

PHOTO courtesy of race el paso flickr page The Mighty Mujer Triathlon, an all-women triathlon, will take place April 18 at Memorial Park in Central El Paso.

By Julia Hettiger The Prospector Race El Paso will host the Mighty Mujer Triathlon, an all-women triathlon that will take place at 7:30 a.m. April 18 at Memorial Park. The race will involve swimming, biking and running, and will consist of two different components: a sprint and a super sprint. The sprint will include a 300-yard swim, 9.3-mile bike ride and a two-mile run. The super sprint will have a 300-yard swim, 18mile bike ride and a three-mile run. “Mighty Mujer Triathlon is intended to introduce women to multisport racing, inspire active living and create community and camaraderie among women in the area,” said Gabriela Gallegos, president and race director of Race El Paso. “It’s a fantastic first triathlon for women who are curious but nervous about racing, and the volunteer support is amazing.” Participants are allowed to form teams for the events. The teams may consist of family members and friends. All teams must participate in the same distance division. The teams will be divided into two different categories-mother-daughter and friends. The mother-daughter teams may consist of two participants and the girlfriends’ teams may have four members. Teams will be identified on their race entries. The fastest average overall time will win the category, and those who do not win will still have the opportunity to win awards based on their age group and for the Athena competition. “There are no relays at Mighty Mujer Triathlon, so each individual participant completes the swim, bike and run. However, women support each

other leading up to and during the race by cheering, offering advice and serving as training buddies,” Gallegos said. The minimum age required to participate in the race is 12 and all participants must be registered members with USA Triathlon, a national triathlon organization. Annual memberships can be purchased on the USAT website. One-day $12 memberships may be purchased during registration for the event. Before the event, all participants must receive a swim certification to ensure the athletes are qualified to safely participate in the swim. To do so, athletes can practice the swim at a 25-yard pool and time themselves. Many El Paso public pools are equipped with timers or participants can ask an employee to time them. Once the times have been recorded, participants can update their swim times on the Race El Paso website to successfully certify their ability to participate in the swim. All swim times must be updated by April 8. All participants have the opportunity to attend weekly training workshops at Spectrum Gym, located at 1700 Cliff Drive, every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to prepare for the race. These workshops are to help participants prepare for the race by helping them learn how to prepare properly, build endurance and train to have a good experience during the race. “The first thing we worked on was strengthening their core,” said Rocio Villalobos, trainer at Spectrum Gym. “The first three weeks, we were strengthening and running, and now we are doing a bike routine with hardbrake hills.” Another goal of the workshops is to teach participants how to stretch to pre-

sprint and $85 for the super sprint. To register, visit raceelpaso.com. For more information about The Mighty Mujer Triathlon and Spectrum Gym, visit raceelpaso.com or spectrumfitness.org. Julia Hettiger may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.


THEPROSPECTOR

| 12 | ENTERTAINMENT

April 7, 2015

Unique Thai cuisine that is worth every penny By Valerie Herrera The Prospector Thai Chef Café is a small corner building located in the lower 4800 block of Dyer Street. When first arriving at the restaurant, I was surprised by its exterior appearance because it was not what I expected it to be. I discovered this old red building with painted letters on the side and got excited. I knew that this rundown-looking building was like a hidden gem that most people would probably ignore. Let me tell you, those holein-the-wall looking places are always the best. Walking inside, I was immediately greeted by my server who sat me at my table right away. About half the tables were filled, probably because it was a little chilly out. Five minutes later, I was chomping down on a platter of crunchy cream cheese wontons stuffed with crab, cream cheese, scallions and black pepper, served with their homemade sweet chili sauce. I’ve dined in a few Thai and Vietnamese restaurants before that, and they only give you two or four wontons per order, but this one came with six. I immediately knew that I was going to get a good portion of food to fill my belly. The ambience of the restaurant was quiet, mellow and the decor is intriguing. I noticed that some parts of the interior were unfinished and saw a pergola under construction. Since this is a fairly new restaurant that opened its doors to the public last year. I figured it was undergoing new

improvements to their growing business. Not that it’s not decent looking, but it’s not renovated or modern looking either. The waiter was very helpful in helping us select our dishes. They offer a great variety of soups, curries, salads, fried rice and noodle plates to choose from. My daughter is a very picky eater and ordered chicken nuggets with fries from the limited amount of options listed on the kids’ menu, only because it sounded like a familiar choice, I assumed. But once our main dishes came out, she was picking off our plates. Soon after we received a big bowl of Thai Poh Tak soup that my husband ordered on the side. It consisted of mixed seafood, Thai herbs, tomato, mushroom, ginger, red onion, cilantro and a signature lime sauce, all mixed in a clear broth. We were warned that it would be very spicy, which is what my husband was hoping for. I’m more of a sweet, tangy kind of person so I decided to go with the chicken teriyaki noodle plate, while my husband’s main dish of choice was the Kang Ped Curry. The Kang Ped was a mild green curry that seemed to get more and more appealing once you tasted it. This arrived with a separate plate of steamed jasmine rice, chicken, green beans and bamboo shoots. The Kang Ped curry paste was mixed with coconut milk and a fresh red chili sauce that had definite intent to harm. The teriyaki plate I ordered consisted of rice noodles submerged in their homemade teriyaki sauce and

hugo bRito / The Prospector Thai Chef Café is located in the lower 4800 block of Dyer Street in Northeast El Paso. sesame seeds. The dish came with marinated grilled chicken breast and was topped with steamed broccoli and carrots over jasmine rice. I ate every last bite of noodles left on my plate. It was that good. You know you had a really good meal when you don’t feel extremely full or sluggish after. I felt extremely satisfied with the food offered and I could tell everything was created with the freshest ingredients. The waiter was very attentive and a great multitasker, as he was greeting and seating incoming customers, serving tables and handling take-out orders at the same time. Yet he managed to keep our glasses filled with Thai iced tea and water. When it came time to pay the check, I honestly thought it was going to be

more expensive. The dishes and appetizers were reasonably priced given the good proportioned sizes and they even offer a military discount during lunch hours. Overall, we spent about $36 to feed a family of four. wWhat also made our whole visit worthwhile was the hospitality. Our waiter provided great and fast customer service and our food came out fairly quickly. We didn’t wait long in between entrees and were in and out within 45 minutes, especially given all the food we ordered. I was happy to see my daughter’s plate come out first without asking because kids do get restless when they are hungry. Each dish served was consistent with taste, and nothing tasted bad at all. The unique aromas, homemade sauces and spices are what made

this place stand out from other similar places. Although it is located a bit further out than from where I live (Horizon), I definitely recommend trying out this unique cuisine of food. The quality of food was worth every penny and is definitely worth the trip. Valerie Herrera may be reached at theprospectordaily. ent@gmail.com.


PAGE 13 April 7, 2015

Sports

Editor

Luis Gonzalez, 747-7477

Chihuahuas kick off second season at home

michaela roman / The Prospector The El Paso Chihuahuas finished their debut season with a 71-73 record. They will open this season with eight-straight home games against Tacoma and Reno starting on April 9.

by Jason Green The Prospector The El Paso Chihuahuas were the talk of the city last year for many different reasons. Luckily for them, the product on the field was the least of those. The new season kicks off at 7:05 p.m. on April 9 against Tacoma at Southwest University Park. The Tacoma Rainiers will be in El Paso from April 9 to 12 and the Reno Aces from April 13 to 16. The Chihuahuas finished 71-73 and outside of the playoff picture in the Pacific Coast League in 2014. Not too many people will remember the record at all. What they will remember is the wonderful atmosphere of Southwest University Park, the great food on game days and the fun promotions that the team puts on for the fans. This year the team promises that all of those things will be even better. There is also a good chance that the team will be better, too. Chihuahuas manager Pat Murphy knows that the wins in San Diego, the major league affiliate for the Chihuahuas who have made huge strides toward becoming relevant again, is really all that matters in the long run. “There’s only one ‘W’ that matters and that’s in the big leagues,” Murphy said. “It’ll all trickle down. It’s all good. When the big team’s winning, we’re all winning.” Last year’s Chihuahuas were well known—like most teams in the Pacific Coast League—for their hitting prowess. The league is historically hit-

ter friendly and the Chihuahuas had plenty of quality hitters. If the team was lacking in one area, it was probably the pitching department. The team finished the season with a combined 5.15 earned run average while using 32 different pitchers during the season. Six of those 32 return this season, but the difference maker may be the time that four of them spent in the major leagues. Relief pitcher Kevin Quackenbush was called up to the Padres last season after only 14 innings with the Chihuahuas. In the majors, “Quack” struck out 56 batters in 54 innings while posting a 2.48 ERA. It appeared Quackenbush would be on the Friars’ roster come opening day up until Sunday. Following yet another blockbuster Padres’ trade, in which they acquired all-star closer Craig Kimbrel from the Atlanta Braves, Quackenbush was the odd man out and one of the last players to be sent back down to Triple-A baseball. Here are the 2015 Chihuahuas pitchers: Leonel Campos – He was on the Chihuahua’ roster to open the season last year. He struggled and was sent down to Double-A San Antonio. He pitched well enough by the end of the year to make the jump to San Diego, where he posted a 5.14 ERA in six games. Scott Elbert – He has won four games in the major leagues over the last six seasons. He strikes out almost one batter per inning, and came to the

Padres from the rival Dodgers, where he had spent his entire career. Robbie Erlin – He spent most of last year recovering from Tommy John surgery (torn ulna), but did start two games for the Chihuahuas toward the end of the season. He started 11 games for the Padres, but did not look like the pitcher who was at one time the No. 53 prospect in all of baseball.

There’s only one ‘W’ that matters and that’s in the big leagues. - Pat Murphy, El Paso Chihuahuas Manager

Casey Kelly – He only pitched toward the end of the season last year in One-A and Double A after spending almost two seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. Once the No. 24 prospect in baseball, Kelly is still only 25 years old, despite having pitched since 2009. He is the Padres’ No. 10 prospect according to Baseball America.

Stephen Kohlscheen – He was outstanding for the Chihuahuas after being traded from the Mariners organization during the 2014 season. Posted a 2.61 ERA in 38 innings with El Paso. Jason Lane – He is by far the most interesting story on last year’s team, and made his way back to the majors as a pitcher after spending six seasons in “the show” with the Astros—and hitting 61 home runs. The 38-yearold Lane is an asset in the rotation and as a bench bat for Murphy. Marcos Mateo – The 30-year-old pitcher has had a cup of coffee in the big leagues, but looks to be a career Triple-A pitcher. He has found his calling as a reliever with a 3.55 ERA over nine minor league seasons. Brandon Maurer – Traded to the Padres in December of last year after pitching in 38 games for the Seattle Mariners. Cory Mazzoni – He was traded to the Padres at the very end of Spring Training. Posted a 24-12 record over four minor league seasons in the Mets organization. James Needy – He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 MLB Draft. Has an outstanding 3.07 ERA over five minor league seasons. May prove to be the ace of the Chihuahuas staff. Aaron Northcraft – Acquired in another recent Padres’ trade. He has struck out 559 batters in six minor league seasons with the Braves. Chris Rearick – A fan-favorite from last season for throwing out bubble gum from the bullpen, the redheaded lefty has 2.72 ERA, and spent the whole season in El Paso.

Kevin Quackenbush – He will most likely be the Chihuahuas’ closer. The Chihuahuas return a lot of fanfavorites in the batting order for 2015. Luckily for the team, the fan-favorites just happen to be some of the best hitters from last season’s team. Cody Decker – the first baseman and sometimes catcher who led all of the Padres’ minor leaguers in home runs returns and will no doubt continue to garner the most interest from fans with his YouTube videos and outgoing personality. One newcomer to the team is Brett Wallace, who like several players last season signed with the Chihuahuas mainly to play for his college coach Pat Murphy. “I had three great years with him. He helped me out with my career a lot early on,” Wallace said. “It’s a lot of fun to be around him, he keeps it loose.” The 2015 Chihuahuas batters: Rocky Gale – Gale was in spring camp with the Padres until the very end and almost won the back-up catching job. He batted .303 for the Chihuahuas last season. Austin Hedges – The Padres No. 4 prospect according to Baseball America. Hedges is known as an outstanding defensive catcher. He needs to improve his .225 batting average from last season to get the call from the Padres. Cody Decker – He hit 27 home runs for the Chihuahuas last year and made several epic Youtube videos

see chihuahuas on page 15


THEPROSPECTOR

| 14 | SPORTS

April 7, 2015

UTEP football takes the field for spring game By Juan Carlos Navarrete The Prospector The Miners will begin their quest for a second-consecutive bowl season starting with their spring game,

“We have a few guys banged up, so we’ll probably hold a few guys out of the spring game, not risking any injuries to some of the established start-

which will take place at 7 p.m. on Fri-

ers, and get a chance to look at a lot

day, April 10 at the Sun Bowl

of twos.”

The Miners, will begin their third year under coach Sean Kugler, will try to improve on the good season they had last year. UTEP finished 7-5 and went to their first bowl game, not only of the Kugler era, but in the last four years. With many of the team’s pillars gone, the spring game can shine a light on some of the Miners’ young talent and may even answer some of the questions concerning next sea-

The biggest question might be the quarterback position, now that last year’s starter Jameill Showers is gone. Although the starting quarterback for the Miners has not been decided, the scrimmage will provide another opportunity that can aid Kugelr in making a decision.

son’s roster. UTEP will go into the

Junior Garret Simpson and sopho-

2015-2016 season without 19 letter

more Mack Leftwich seem to lead the

winners, which included 11 starters. “Well, we’re not going to have a draft and split teams, but we are going to have a full scrimmage,” Kugler said.

pack, playing better and making the race more about them.

see football on page 15

michaela Roman / The Prospector The UTEP football team will play in their annual spring scrimmage at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 10 at the Sun Bowl.

inbrief Softball The Miners will host No. 19 Arizona State University for a doubel-header on Tuesday, April 7 at the Helen of Troy Softball Coplex. The first game will be at 3 p.m. and the second is scheduled for 5 p.m. During the weekend, UTEP will host Florida International University for a three-game series starting with a double-header on Saturday, April 11. The third game will be on Sunday, April 12 at 10 a.m.

Track and Field On Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 the men’s and women’s teams will be in Tempe, Ariz., for the Sun Angel Classic.

Women’s golf UTEP golf will compete on April 10-11 in the Dr. Donnis Thomas Invitational. The tournament will take place in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Men’s golf The men’s team will travel to Santa Cruz, Calif., for the Western Intercollegiate. The tournament, which will be take place on April 11-12, will be the last event before the Conference USA Championships

Football The spring season will come to an end with the spring scrimmage on Friday, April 10, at the Sun Bowl at 7 a.m.

Chihuahuas baseball El Paso’s Triple-A team is back for its second season and will open the year with an eight-game homestand. They will host Tacoma from April 9 to the 12, with all games starting at 7:05 p.m. except for April 12, which will begin at 1:05 p.m. Reno will be in town from April 13 - April 16. All games will start at 6:35 p.m., except for April 14th, which will start at 11:05 a.m.


THEPROSPECTOR

SPORTS | 15 |

April 7, 2015

football from page 14 “They all did a nice job, there was too many pre-snap penalties, but we’ll get that cleaned up,” Kugler said. For many, Garrett Simpson is the starting quarterback for next season, but the spring game may prove that the competition is still alive. Good performances from Leftwich and Metz can keep the competition alive for the rest of the preseason before they take to the stadium. However, Simpson does not seem concerned about the competition and is rather focused on improving every practice. “With practice, you’re going to get better, so we are definitely progressing,” Simpson said. “Just got to make plays and lead by example.”

This would have been the first time fans would get a chance to look at Texas transfer M.J. McFarland. The home-town senior appears to be the perfect piece to fill the void left by tight end Eric Tomlinson, but McFarland will not play on Saturday because of a concussion suffered during practice. Also out of the scrimmage will be standout running back Aaron Jones. His role on the team as the starting running back is set, but who will be carrying the ball when he isn’t is still up for grabs. “I was going into the spring looking for that number two (running back),” Kugler said. “I was really interested in seeing Hamm and Hughes, and both

of those guys have stood out. Two excellent, quality running backs to add to our mix, I think we will be a solid four deep at that position.” Sophomore David Hamm is expected to take most of Jones’ touches during the spring game. It’s a perfect opportunity for the Klein, Texas native to solidify himself as the Miner backup in the backfield. “I have a role to play behind Aaron Jones,” Hamm said. “Whenever they call my name I have to make a play.” The spring game is the last big event of the springtime and it’s a time for coaches to rate their players and make decisions with the roster. Although the spring game does not count for anything other than an or-

ganized practice, many positions that are being battled over could be decided over the course of the game. For the fans, the spring game is a way of seeing the Miners battle it out in a way that they don’t do at practice. For the players, they know that one big play may be the factor behind a starting role on the team or a comfortable bench position. Juan Carlos Navarrete may be reached at theprospectordaily.sports@gmail.com.

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2008 Scion tC Sport Coupe

michaela roman / The Prospector Senior running back Autrey Golden breaks a tackle during the Miners’ 2014 spring game.

Chihuahuas from page 13

huas. He had a .452 average during

consisting of pranks on teammate Jeff Franceour. Alex Dickerson – The 1B/OF was supposed to be a big part of the Chihuahuas last season, but missed it all following an injury in the spring. The former third-round pick has a career .298 average. Taylor Lindsey – Acquired in a trade with the Angels midseason, he batted only .219 for the Chihuahuas. The career .284 batter should see an improvement in his second season in the PCL. Mike McCoy – The 34-year-old San Diego native has a .190 career batting average in parts of four major league seasons. He looks to be strictly a back up for the Chihuahuas. Ramiro Peña – The 29-year-old Mexican had a few good seasons in New York backing up Derek Jeter. He is a slick fielder who should become a fan favorite. Brett Wallace – The probable starting third baseman has 29 career major league home runs over four seasons. Abraham Almonte – He played against the Chihuahuas last season as a member of the Tacoma Rainiers, and has 209 career minor league stolen bases. Jake Goebbert – He came to the Chihuahuas midway through 2014 in the trade of another Chihuahua, Kyle Blanks. He spent 51 games with the Padres last season after posting a .322 average with eight home runs as a Chihuahua. Rymer Liriano – The Padres No. 6 prospect made his Major League debut last season following a brief, but a phenomenal stint with the Chihua-

his 16 games in El Paso. Tommy Medica – He returns to El Paso after spending most of the season with the Padres. He hit nine home runs and had 27 runs batted in during his second season in the majors. There could be a drastic improvement under Murphy’s tutelage this season. The Chihuahuas have one of the best managers in Triple-A baseball. With the collection of talent that the Padres have stashed in El Paso this year, this team should easily best last year’s record. Whether they will be appearing in the Triple-A National Championship, which takes place at Southwest University Field in September, is really up to the Padres. Players will come and go, with the ultimate goal being to win a World Series at the Major League level. It is up to Pat Murphy to win with what he has here in El Paso. The fans are going to win regardless during another fun and exciting El Paso Chihuahuas season. Jason Green may be reached at theprospectordaily. sports@gmail.com.

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2007 Honda CR-V EX 4WD AT

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2012 HONDA Civic LX Automatic

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*Photos are for illustrative purposes only.

However, don’t count Ryan Metz out. The freshman seems to be out of the running for the starting job, but to Kugler his players always have a chance to gain ground and have a role on the football team. “He can certainly play his way back,” Kugler said. “He’s going to have a role on this team, I won’t have athletes sitting on the sidelines. If he’s not a quarterback, he’s going to be doing one thing or another.” Kugler has been giving more reps to Simpson, but that does not mean all the kinks have been taken care of on the offensive side of the ball. Penalties and turnovers are normal during the springtime.

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8052 Alameda. El Paso, TX 79915-4704

Call or text 915-873-0524 with Manny or Michael • Fax: 915-858-4471


Student Satisfaction Survey

1 of 3 iPad minis 1 set of Beats by Dre Headphones 1 of 2 UTEP Student Parking Permits for 2015-16 1 $100 Gift Card to the UTEP Bookstore 1 UTEP Football signed by Coach Kugler 1 of 5 UTEP Athletics Prize Packs

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APRIL 6-12, 2015


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